Volterragusto, olive oil and truffles are served

This weekend and next week, from 30th March to 1st April, Volterra, within the Spring appendage of the Volterragusto show, returns as showcase of the local food and wine excellence, celebrating two of the most important products of its territory: truffles and extra virgin olive oil, protagonists of competitions, stalls, events and tastings created for a public of onlookers and enthusiasts.

Already famous for its prized white variety, on show between October and November, Volterra pays homage to the equally noble, though less known, March Truffle: a superb specimen still to be discovered, which will here be accompanied by many other typical products of the territory.

Among these the olive oil, another ambassador of both Volterra and the entire olive oil production of the province of Pisa. The first priority of this year is to raise awareness and promote this product and its century-old tradition, so deeply rooted in the territory.

In this sense, the 7th edition of “As Smooth as Olive Oil”, Liscio come l’Olio, the most important competition regarding the best first pressed olive oil in the province of Pisa. The awards ceremony, open to the public, will be held on Sunday 1st April at 4.30 pm, in the picturesque setting of the Sala del Maggior Consiglio of Palazzo de’ Priori. Following will be the presentation of the book “A Selection of the Extra Virgin Olive Oils in the Province of Pisa 2012”, a comprehensive and precious handbook containing data and information on all companies producing extra virgin olive oil in the province of Pisa. The colonnade of the ancient Loggias of Piazza de’ Priori will host the very original “Oil Bar”, with exhibition and tastings of all the olive oils competing.

Not only olive oil and March truffles in Piazza dei Priori this Sunday, and the next, thanks to “Get in a Stock of Short Supply Chain”, Fai Scorta di Filiera Corta, which will be exposing the full range of Volterra’s specialities. In the square, in fact, will be set up stalls with various kinds of cold meats, wine, cheese, chocolate and much more for tasting and sale. A unique opportunity to get a close-up of the excellent products this territory has to offer.

A tasting of excellence and flavour with Volterragusto, which also gives the opportunity to discover one of the most charming towns of Tuscany with side events thought for the whole family. Among these the “Tournament of the Two Parks”, Torneo dei Due Parchi, this Sunday, 25th March, an amusing competition, in which the participants, dressed in medieval costumes, will demonstrate their skills, especially their good shot, with bow and arrows.

For those more interested in the truffle-side of this event, next Sunday, 1st April, there will be “All in Search of the March Truffle”, Tutti a Caccia di Marzuolo. A great opportunity to see how the local hunters and their inseparable truffle hounds go around searching for their prized tubers.

Also Sunday, 1st April, in the afternoon, will also be held “Bread with Mother Dough”, Pane con Lievito Madre, a workshop entirely consecrated to bread and its traditional making, with emphasis on the different types, on rising, on the qualitative characteristics and above all on the importance of this particular food on a health and food level.

The diffusion of quality products will also be done with the involvement of local restaurants. The 15 finalists of the olive oil competition (the first three in each category) will be coupled to as many restaurants of the area, so as to permit clients, tourists, visitors to taste them, along with the other products of the short supply chain; this for the whole period of the event. A unique showcase with the choice of a menu dedicated to the event, which will lead us in the discovery of the excellent products of this territory.